Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:21 pm  

rugbyleague88 wrote:

I disagree regarding Kasiano / Paasi. They are exactly the sort of player we want, a high impact player coming off the bench to give breathers to our front line who are of slightly different mould. Currently when Oledzki, Prior, Tetevano get replaced the pack is substantially weakened whereas with Kasiano / Paasi it would strengthen us when our front line require a rest. Replacing Oledzki for Thompson or Donaldson substantially weakens us.

Regarding backs, I am hoping having a fit Handley, Newman, Fusitua and Myler with Broadbent possibly taking our other centre spot could improve us a lot. Fusitua has looked very impressive from the little I have seen so far.

So far this season our first rotation has been Mik coming on. In an ideal world we would have Prior and Mik starting with Tetevano and Holroyd coming from the bench. In terms of a rotation I think that is pretty good. Issue obviously keeping them all fit. I think we need another prop, probably two. One an experienced overseas prop who replaces Thompson and a younger prop as the sixth option replacing Donaldson/Mustapha.

I think that will probably happen next year but it isn’t going to happen this year and never was so we just need to get on with it and use what we have.

We cannot carry 6 top quality props in a squad with a salary cap.

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Wed Feb 23, 2022 7:38 pm  

We are 2 games in thats all. We need to improve dramatically on last week but lets be honest we all know we are better than that performance.

Newman and Fusitua will both improve the backline dramatically. We need a fully fit Mikolaj in that pack.

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:10 am  

I don't think anyone is suggesting we could have 6 top flight props. But 4 decent ones plus a couple of others who are actual props rather than second rowers isn't impossible. I certainly don't believe that King last year or retaining Thompson this year were the only options available at a decent price for a short-term contract had we made additional props a priority.

Recruitment and selection since Agar took over suggests he simply doesn't believe as much as I do in prop-sized props. He seems to believe in 'middles' filling in around a couple of props. I'm still not clear what a 'middle' is, but it seems to be something like an undersized prop who can play second row.

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:04 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

I don't think anyone is suggesting we could have 6 top flight props. But 4 decent ones plus a couple of others who are actual props rather than second rowers isn't impossible. I certainly don't believe that King last year or retaining Thompson this year were the only options available at a decent price for a short-term contract had we made additional props a priority.

Recruitment and selection since Agar took over suggests he simply doesn't believe as much as I do in prop-sized props. He seems to believe in 'middles' filling in around a couple of props. I'm still not clear what a 'middle' is, but it seems to be something like an undersized prop who can play second row.

Think it means a player who can fill in when you have no other prop options l, due to inability to get enough squad balance, and the usual bad luck..

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:51 am  

A 'middle' is a player with limited attributes to play prop and limited attributes to play back row, but all of the attributes required to play in the championship.

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:55 am  

Seth wrote:

A 'middle' is a player with limited attributes to play prop and limited attributes to play back row, but all of the attributes required to play in the championship.

Now that made me laugh.

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 10:18 am  

Seth wrote:

A 'middle' is a player with limited attributes to play prop and limited attributes to play back row, but all of the attributes required to play in the championship.

That def beats my definition…..

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:38 pm  

After agars half time confession last week it does bother me that he's hanging on this message of it being a 'short turnaround' and 'not much time to fix things up'. Is anything less than 7 days worthy of getting an excuse in early when the opposition have travelled and on a day less?

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:00 pm  

Agree Seth getting his excuses in early.
On another note Myler out for 10 weeks so back mid May.
Was there any mention of Fusitua`s absence tonight?

Re: RD 3 | Catalan Dragons (H) : Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:20 pm  

Seth wrote:

After agars half time confession last week it does bother me that he's hanging on this message of it being a 'short turnaround' and 'not much time to fix things up'. Is anything less than 7 days worthy of getting an excuse in early when the opposition have travelled and on a day less?

If you're talking about his presser he said that both sides were on a short turnaround, and didn't really dwell on that point (I also don't remember him saying not much time to fix things up but could be wrong on that). Didn't sound like any sort of excuses to me.